Peace
Depending on your organizational skills... and your level of expectation... peace... may be the last thing you are feeling... and seem like an impossibility...
Yet... that's why He came... to make the way for... peace...
For everyone has sinned;
we all fall short of God's glorious standard.
Romans 3:23 NLT
To fall short... of God's glorious standard... makes us God's enemies... there is no peace... between enemies...
en-e-my... noun... one that is antagonistic to another especially: one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
--- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition)
Yet God, with undeserved kindness,
declares that we are righteous.
He did this through Christ Jesus
when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.
People are made right with God when they believe
that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back
and did not punish those who sinned in times past,
for he was looking ahead and including them
in what he would do in this present time.
God did this to demonstrate his righteousness,
for he himself is fair and just,
and he declares sinners to be right in his sight
when they believe in Jesus.
Romans 3:24-26 NLT
This is the Good News... the Gospel...
Think about the best news you could receive...
healing... of disease...
reconciliation... of relationship...
acceptance... of an application...
resurrection... of life...
What would be your first response...? if what you most desired... was delivered... as good news...?
Mine... joy... immediately followed by... peace...
Bad news... destroys peace...
Good news... restores peace...
The arrival of the Babe in the manger... here is where the Good News of Christ begins... prepares the Way for...
healing...
reconciliation...
acceptance...
resurrection...
PEACE...
For in [the Son] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 ESV
Receive the Good News of the Babe...
Who grew to be the Lamb...
Who came... to take away the sins of the world...
to make the Way... for peace...
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
...
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4, 5
Go now... to the altar of the manger...
Rejoice... at the Good News He brings...
Lay down... your anxieties... expectations...
Rest... in His work... and in His strength...
Present your requests... with thanksgiving...
And receive... His peace... which transcends understanding...
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